text: Winkler was born in 1838 in Freiberg, Kingdom of Saxony the son of a chemist who had studied under Berzelius.  Winkler's early education was at schools in Freiberg, Dresden, and Chemnitz.  In 1857 he entered the Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, where his knowledge of analytical chemistry surpassed what he was being taught there. Sixteen years later, Winkler was appointed a professor of chemical technology and analytical chemistry at the university.
  Winkler was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1892.
  In 1893, Winkler moved to Hamburg where he married his childhood sweetheart Tanja Braun.
  In 1902, Winkler resigned his professorship.  He died in Dresden two years later of carcinoma at the age of 65.
  According to Brunck, Winkler wrote poetry, and according to McCay, Winkler's talents extended to  playing several musical instruments.